Whitinsville man accused of fracturing Shrewsbury toddler's skull

Monday

Oct 7, 2013 at 6:32 PMOct 7, 2013 at 6:38 PM

By Elaine Thompson, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

SHREWSBURY — A 29-year-old Whitinsville man who police say assaulted his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, fracturing her skull and causing her brain to bleed, was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail Monday.

Police said Rowan W. Cook, 29, of 31 Overlook St., Whitinsville, was living in a Grafton Street home with his girlfriend and her 2-year-old daughter when the incident happened on Sept. 9.

According to the police report, Mr. Cook returned home about 5:30 p.m. from his job in the bakery department of a local grocery store. The girl's mother was cooking dinner. Around 7 p.m. the mother went to pick up a friend in Ware and left her daughter in the care of Mr. Cook.

Mr. Cook allegedly told authorities he was feeding the girl until she started throwing food against the wall. At that point, he took her to the basement, changed her and put her to bed in her crib, he said. Fifteen minutes later, he told police, he found the child unresponsive. He said he shook her, slapped her and put her in the shower to try to revive her. When he couldn't, he knocked on a neighbor's door and asked them to call 911.

At his arraignment in Westboro District Court Monday, the assistant Worcester County District Attorney told Judge Vito Virzi the girl was in such critical condition that she required emergency surgery that evening and an extensive stay in the hospital. At one point she was on a ventilator. The girl is currently in a rehabilitation facility because she suffered a significant loss of motor function on her left side.

The prosecutor said doctors who cared for the toddler said the injuries she sustained could not have been caused by an accidental fall. The doctors also said the injuries would have immediately triggered her symptoms.

The prosecutor said Mr. Cook admitted he had struck the girl a previous time when he was changing her and she tore his shirt.

Mr. Cook is charged with assault and battery on a child resulting in substantial injury. In addition to $50,000 cash bail or $500,000 with surety, he was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and witnesses and have no contact with children under the age of 16. His case is continued to Oct. 24.